Derry City draw a rare blank at home as Cork City snatch draw in forgettable clash

Belfast Telegraph

12 hours ago

An entirely forgettable game had little to excite the expectant crowd, who had hoped to see their team pick up their first League win in four games. But Tiernan Lynch's team managed just one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes against an opponent that had managed just three wins in 26 games this season.
The Candystripes had won their last eight games against Cork City in all competitions but rarely looked like making it nine, with this performance lacking in enthusiasm and hunger throughout.
The first half hour of the game was largely forgettable, with the home side gently asking questions of Cork rather than battering the door down. Michael Duffy was clearly the most dangerous player on the pitch and both he and Sadou Diallo fired efforts over from 20 yards before City finally managed an effort on target on the half hour.
Adam O'Reilly was more than willing to provide an option on the wing and, after Carl Winchester picked him out, he crossed to the back post where Duffy rose to head straight into the arms of Conor Brann.
Gavin Whyte was also trying to make things happen and he almost turned provider five minutes before the break when he sent a cross right onto the head of Liam Boyce, but the striker headed over under pressure from Freddie Anderson.
Tiernan Lynch made four substitutions in an attempt to change it in the second half, and while the likes of Dipo Akinyemi and Ben Doherty injected more energy into the game, there was a spark missing from this City team, who seemed unable to rouse themselves, with Cork goalkeeper Brann remaining untested.
The visitors were more than happy to sit back and soak up the pressure, hoping to hit Derry on the counter-attack, but with one defence holding strong against an attack devoid of ideas, this had a goalless draw written all over it long before the final whistle.
Derry's frustrations were summed up in the closing stages when Ben Doherty sent a superb cross right into the heart of the penalty area but there was no-one there to attack it, much to the annoyance of the home fans.
There were some boos for the fans who stayed until the final whistle, with Lynch and his players knowing that they need much better all around ahead of next weekend's FAI Cup tie against Drogheda United.
Derry City: Maher, O'Reilly, Cann, Connolly, Stott, Fleming (Doherty 63); Diallo (R Boyce 72), Winchester, Duffy, Whyte (Mullen 63); Boyce (Akinyemi 55).
Cork City: Brann, Nevin, McLaughlin, Nolan, Nelson (Kamara 71), Crowley, Fitzpatrick, Kiernan, Anderson, Maguire (Lutz 81), Feely.